Akashinga: The Brave Ones
National Geographic Documentary Films
Akashinga: The Brave Ones was an incredible short-form documentary to be part of, and one of the productions I’m most proud of.
The film was executive produced by James Cameron and made with an exceptionally small crew: Maria Wilhelm directing, Kim Butts and Drew Pulley producing, myself as Director of Photography, Cian Hamilton as camera operator, and Micaela Hamilton as assistant director.
Because the team was so small, everyone had to take on multiple roles. Alongside shooting as DOP, I was also handling sound, lighting and drone work, with Cian assisting across camera and technical setup. It was a huge undertaking for such a compact crew, but that also made the production feel incredibly focused and collaborative.
We all felt a real responsibility to portray the Akashinga women with the strength, dignity and complexity they deserved. The film was about far more than anti-poaching; it was also about women’s empowerment, resilience and the changing face of conservation in Zimbabwe.
To see such a small team create something that went on to receive multiple nominations and awards was hugely rewarding. For me, that recognition was one of the proudest moments of my career, because it reflected just how much everyone gave to the film.
Role: Director of Photography
Also covered: camera · sound · lighting · drone
STILLS FROM THE SHOOT
